Parental Involvement in EducationChild Development and Digital TechnologyEarly Childhood Education and Development
DOI: 10.15516/cje.v27i3.6344

Abstract

AbstractParental involvement in early literacy education is widely recognized as afoundational element of children’s academic and social development. While existingresearch primarily emphasized school-driven literacy initiatives, more attentionshould be given to literacy practices initiated solely by parents based on theirpersonal values and beliefs. This study addressed this gap by exploring the specificliteracy and moral values imparted to children through parent-initiated homebasedliteracy practices, and how these may differ from those promoted by schoolledinitiatives. Utilizing a single-case study approach, this research examinedthe practices of “Rose”, an Indonesian mother who independently cultivated herchildren’s literacy and character development through daily activities, mediaselection, and moral instruction. Data were collected through semi-structuredinterviews, informal interviews with her children, direct observations, and artifactanalysis, with thematic analysis employed to identify critical patterns. The resultsrevealed that parent-initiated practices foster knowledge enrichment throughincidental learning, moral instruction via modeled behavior, and selective useof digital media. Framed within Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory andVygotsky’s sociocultural theory, the study highlights the flexibility and culturalrelevance of parent-led efforts to address gaps in formal education, supportingchildren’s holistic growth by integrating moral values and family-centered education.This research advocates for educational policies that empower parents as activecontributors to holistic child development, offering novel insights into the synergiesbetween home and school-based literacy education.Key words: cultural identity; early childhood education; ecological system theory;parent-initiated literacy practice; sociocultural theory---SažetakUključenost roditelja u procese ranoga opismenjavanja široko je prepoznata kaotemeljni element akademskoga i socijalnoga razvoja djece. Iako se postojećaistraživanja ponajprije fokusiraju na inicijative pismenosti koje pokreće škola,potrebno je posvetiti više pažnje praksama poticanja pismenosti koje isključivoiniciraju roditelji na temelju vlastitih vrijednosti i uvjerenja. Ovim istraživanjemnastoji se ispuniti taj jaz istražujući specifične vrijednosti pismenosti i moralakoje se prenose djeci u obiteljskom okružju te kako se one mogu razlikovati odvrijednosti koje promiču škole. Koristeći pristup jedinstvene studije slučaja, ovimse istraživanjem ispitala prakse Rose, indonezijske majke koja je samostalnorazvijala pismenost i karakter svoje djece u svakodnevnim aktivnostima, uodabiru medija i moralnoj pouci. Podatci su prikupljeni putem polustrukturiranihintervjua, neformalnih razgovora s njezinom djecom, izravnih opažanja i analizeartefakata, dok je tematska analiza korištena za identifikaciju ključnih obrazaca.Nalazi su pokazali da roditeljski inicirane prakse potiču obogaćivanje znanjaputem slučajnoga učenja, moralnu pouku u modeliranom ponašanju te selektivnuupotrebu digitalnih medija. U okviru Bronfenbrennerove teorije ekoloških sustavai Vygotskyjeve sociokulturne teorije, studija naglašava fleksibilnost i kulturnurelevantnost napora koje ulažu roditelji u rješavanju praznina formalnogaobrazovanja, pružajući jedinstvenu podršku cjelovitom razvoju djece integriranjemmoralnih vrijednosti i obiteljskoga obrazovanja. U ovom istraživanju zagovarajuse obrazovne politike koje osnažuju roditelje kao aktivne sudionike u djetetovomcjelovitom razvoju te nudi nova saznanja o sinergijama između kućnoga i školskogaobrazovanja pismenosti.Ključne riječi: kulturalni identitet; rano djetinjstvo; roditeljski poticaji razvojapismenosti; sociokulturna teorija; teorija ekoloških sustava

Citation format

LESTARI, I. From home to school: A single case study on how parentinitiated literacy practices complement formal education/od kuće do škole: Jedinstvena studija slučaja o tome kako roditeljsko poticanje rane pismenosti nadopunjuje formalno obrazovanje. Croatian Journal of Education-Hrvatski Casopis za Odgoj i obrazovanje, 2026, 27(3).